Hamilton Heights' Ado To Play With USA Elite Under-20 Team

National Sqaud Will Compete In World Championships In June

Wednesday, April 16, 2014
- by Larry Fleming

Hamilton Heights' Abdulhakim Ado doing what he does best -- block a shot.
- photo by Contributed

Hamilton Heights sophomore post Abdulhakim Ado, who already has been offered a scholarship by Vanderbilt, has been selected to play with the USA Elite National Under-20 team at the World Championships in Tourcoing, France.

“We are excited about this opportunity for Abdul to compete on a world stage,” Hamilton Heights coach Zach Ferrell said in a release from the school. “To be able to compete against some of the best in the world and to see and experience another country and culture is a priceless opportunity.”

The World Championships will be held June 18-23 and the USA team will compete against seven other countries.

The 6-foot-11-inch Ado, who is 15 years old and originally from Nigeria, helped the Hawks to a fourth-place finish in the National Association of Christian Athletes basketball tournament in late February.

He averaged 9.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 7.3 blocked shots per game during the 2013-14 season.

Ado scored a season-high 41 points against Bradley Central early in the season.

“Abdul is a great player and great person,” Ferrell said. “We, as a team and school, are proud of him and the opportunity he has earned. This will be a huge stepping stone for his development and will be an experience he will never forget.”

Ado and teammates Ezekiel Balogun, a sophomore, and freshman Silas Adheke are also competing this summer in the Nike EYBL with the Georgia Stars.

The Lee men's basketball team led from start to finish on Tuesday night in a dominating 71-46 victory over Cumberland University from Walker Arena. Sophomore Ryan Montgomery led the way with 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists. The Chattanooga Central product electrified the home crowd with a powerful, breakaway two-handed slam late in the first half. I just thought ... (click for more)

Chattanooga Police said a man barged into a woman's home in the MLK Neighborhood around noon on Tuesday and tried to rape the woman. Thomas Lee Carr, 28, was taken into custody on Wednesday morning. Carr is charged with one count of attempted rape. Police said, "The victim was followed by the suspect into her residence where the victim was then ... (click for more)

A Moccasin Bend resident is asking the city to move a police firing range from off the historic Bend so he can open a bed and breakfast inn. Steve Holmes also said the move needs to take place because the new Moccasin Bend National Park is set to begin implementing its management plan early next year. He said the park should bring 250,000 visitors to Chattanooga each year with ... (click for more)

Permit me to publicly express appreciation to Vince Dean. His calm, comprehensive and diplomatic arguments to the Chattanooga City Council against the administration’s ill-advised plan to segregate retirees and herd them unwillingly into a separate insurance plan unquestionably saved the day. The proposed new plan, if implemented, was certain to cause months of chaos and confusion ... (click for more)

As I stepped away from the overflow crowd at Monday night’s Town Council meeting on Signal Mountain, I leaned in to tell Jean Trohanis how sorry I was to hear of the loss of her dearest friend. But in that millisecond before I could speak, the former but still-loved elementary school principal gave me her best hallway hiss and, with a pointed finger, she ordered, “You ... (click for more)